“Blair!” Belinda went ghostly pale, frozen stiff, her face drained of all color
Eileen dashed over in a panic, her eyes welling up with tears at the sight of Blair’s twisted arm. “Blairt My poor boys Hank He’s your own cousin. How could you do something so vicious? How could you…
Hank’s face stayed blank and cold, like he’d just snapped off a pesky branch.
He pulled his hand back slowly, wiping it disdainfully with a handkerchief as if disgusted by the touch, then turned and gently lifted Dina into his arms in a bridal carry. The care in his movements was a total flip from his earlier brutalny.
His chilling stare flicked over the petrified Belinda and Eileen one final time, delivering the words like a grim verdict. “Nex time, it won’t be just an arm.
Cradling Dina, he strode out boldly, ignoring the shocked stares of the crowd without so much as a glance track.
***
Inside the limited–edition Rolls–Royce Phantom, Dina was settled into the roomy, cushy back seat, with a pillow
thoughtfully tucked behind her lower back. The crisp cedar scent still hung in the air around her.
The tight space made the awkwardness of being alone with Hank feel even more intense. Her fingers twisted nervously, and she shifted slightly away without thinking.
“Don’t move.” Hank’s voice came out deep and steady.
He popped open the car’s mini–fridge, grabbed an ice pack, wrapped it in a soft towel, and carefully held it against her swollen cheek.
The cabin was dimly lit, and as he leaned closer, his face was just inches from hers.
She could make out the tiny mole on the bridge of his nose, which somehow triggered a memory of the one below his collarbone…
She thought, ‘Stop it. Why is my brain going there again with those steamy thoughts?‘
Her cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment, and she hurriedly grasped for something to say to distract herself. “You…. weren’t you supposed to stay away? Said you were swamped?”
Hank’s gaze lingered on her face, maybe assessing how the ice was working, or perhaps just taking her in.
He replied evenly, “Change of plans.”
She thought, ‘Change of plans? Enough to hop a flight back from overseas just for Darren’s birthday?”
Dina quipped dryly, “How devoted.”
Hank thought, ‘Devoted?‘ His eyes darkened as he watched her for a beat. His finger twitched faintly, but he simply murmured low, “…Yeah.”
The chat died right there.
Around him, Dina always got this weird jittery vibe, her mind racing in circles, clueless on what to say next. Silence blanketed the car again.
1/4
Andean & Samma Hay
Mekan yang HE HAS YOU TAK Hey we fining an all–time high
ngtime
-ket for and then she proposed marriage, shed own exactly what duties came with the
brudte femme she want ready for that at all
Hey ya whole new and doer oneil she finally worked up the nerve to hurt it out, like she was steeling
Kaya di base, the heat ryge typing dimply His eyes med domy in an instant, deep and unreadable like a
Yankees het may race unther them before. The got work to wrap up I’ll crash in the study tonight”
We sent fest but Indered whee Shark fing her really had just been a way to get under Blair’s skin
Hak seyyhow of the um sorting the door, only to lock eyes with Joseph’s face, etched with utter exasperation
Marina Band wafer &ingent here so soon? soceph seemed genuinely pained. You finally made it back, why not wwwww wwe tee Meat We normal? No more creeping in at night…
Way with my ye
ham de un cand diyete Sevme mujonde spine, Bot joseph was used to it by now, totally unfazed. He let out a heavy
Herbs/Me/Hokwane un duty and mercies in every other part of life, but with Dina…why so hesitant? This has to
Ker Heaven be capped highly on the door
Veste banke wat penat ette as he spore casually, “Mrs Woodward, pardon the interruption. I just checked NF UNINE, MA Me Howard fire tomentom. He can join you for the wedding dress fitting.
How dard tamo kater, the code are designed as a matching set trying them on together will really show how
Dina.
the decide, trying on wedding dresses with Water & trassive surge of pressure hit Dix
Bajerning was spoon, and die coddn’t come up with any excuse to say no…Sure?
控
Fred tumm bir dummer, thin was just about to slide into bed when she spotted 88 missed calls on her phone. Every single
s dunght, the arm te burden Sheddart he be in surgery at the hospital How the hell does he have time to bombard me
12:00 pm P ZZZ
Chapter 15
with calls?‘
She had zero interest in dealing with it and was seconds from blocking him when new text fis
Blair: [Dina, did Hank do anything to you? Don’t worry. I’m on my way to get you
After the grueling day she’d had, Dina was utterly wiped out, body and soul Sleep was all the couch, he condhan another drama–fest if Blair barged in.
Annoyed, she picked up as the phone buzzed again.
The second it connected, Blair’s hoarse, frantic voice burst through. “Dina, thank God you mowered Die Hink and your
Dina snorted, her words laced with biting sarcasm. “Hurt me? Mr. Woodward, shon–term memory lose who de gordink slapped me right in front of the whole crowd at the birthday bash today? Ring any bells, it was your
Dead air on the line, broken only by his ragged breaths.
“I’m sorry…” After a heavy silence, Blair’s tone dropped, heavy with remorse. “Dina, it was a split–second thing I’m baby’s fresh out of the incubator, so vulnerable. I lost it. If you hadn’t gone after the kid, I never would be and alene. like that…
Even now, he was convinced she’d meant to hurt the child.
She’d been let down and heartbroken too many times; Dina didn’t even have the will to fight back or set the recont t
anymore.
She gave a cold laugh. “If that kid means so much to you, keep him on a short leash. Next time he ends up in my parti D swear I’ll just drop him and be done with it.”
“Dina! Are you out of your mind? That’s my son!” Blair’s voice spiked, fury boiling over.
“Not my problem.” Dina fired back the words like ice and slammed the call ended, blocking the number in one sitt
Peace at last.
*****
The block hit Blair like a splash of ice water, jolting him awake and flooding him with regret. He thought. Why did I snag at Dina again?‘ He’d only wanted to win her over.
“Alexander, hand over your phone.” He snatched the bodyguard Alexander’s device, snapped a pic of his casted arm, and fired it off to Dina.
Caption: [Mrs. Woodward, Mr. Woodward’s in bad shape. The pain’s keeping him awake even after the meds wore off! He keeps whispering your name. Could you swing by and check on him?]
Dina had a heart of gold. Even pissed off, she’d melt at the sight of him hurt like this and rush over.
Once she was there, he’d talk her around face–to–face. They’d patch things up, good as new.
But Blair paced through the whole night, then fidgeted anxiously into the next afternoon, with zero trace of Dia
The wait gnawed at him, ratcheting up his anxiety. Dread grew like weeds in his gut, the loss of control driving him up the
wall.
He thought, ‘How could she not give a damn? How could she actually blow me off?‘ He was done waiting
3/4
gle womed at de
kingine wand and ending waves of agony through him.
Jeg er det som ett The Hum Back Toration How sense fer right away?
****** Ser dents the store We Wondial, Mrs Woodward’s at… Misty
Ber Gesondet
My day or thing that une the drder high–end mail in Veron
Head Rope com endal of worry and disbelief twisted in his chest.
Have Here He didnts the car and barked at the driver in gun it
The lore fully Tatred Birding the dosese write aut charged into the glamorous,
The toking that the Ruding shadows at frose on the expansive glass front of an elite bridal salon.
burro e dating your card infot s
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